Closings

Severe Weather

Ex-cheerleader's libel lawsuit in jury's hands

Published On: Jan 24 2013 02:57:02 PM EST

Sarah Jones faces sex abuse charges

COVINGTON, Ky. -

The attorney for a former Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader who had sex with her underage student is telling jurors they have an opportunity to send a message across the U.S. by finding that a gossip website defamed her in lewd online posts.

In his closing statement Thursday in a northern Kentucky courtroom, attorney Eric Deters told jurors that they must find in favor of former cheerleader Sarah Jones and against Scottsdale, Ariz.-based thedirty.com

Deters told jurors to "do something big today" that would send a message across the country that defamation on the Internet is unacceptable.

Jones is asking for $11 million.

Attorneys for the site argue that the posts aren't defamation because Jones is a public figure and were generally true because she's "sexually immoral."

As top GOP presidential candidates arrived at a hotel here to court the influential donors of the Koch network, Charles Koch called on retreat attendees to unite with him in a campaign against "corporate welfare" and "irresponsible spending" by both ...